GTX 280 cards coming down?

nosfe

Senior member
Aug 8, 2007
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how about a gtx 280 from my country(Romania)? starts at 533$ goes all the way up to 760$
 

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
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Too bad the MIRs take 12 weeks if they ever come at all. Some excellent deals on graphics cards right now, thanks entirely to AMD's RV770s. :) Looks like Nvidia is trying to clear inventory to make room for their 55nm GT200b chips.
 

Hauk

Platinum Member
Nov 22, 2001
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Originally posted by: Bateluer
Too bad the MIRs take 12 weeks if they ever come at all. Some excellent deals on graphics cards right now, thanks entirely to AMD's RV770s. :) Looks like Nvidia is trying to clear inventory to make room for their 55nm GT200b chips.

It sure was nice to see a return to competition. Hopefully we as buyers have made a difference. Damn nice prices all over the place, whatever you choose..

 

Qbah

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 2005
3,754
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Cheapest one in Denmark is for 520$... Cheapest GTX260 is 345$. No clue if it's the 192 or 216 version... I checked a few sites and none give you this little important detail. I guess one has to call them before buying and ask... And it's not in the name either.
 

james1701

Golden Member
Sep 14, 2007
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This makes for a tough decision. Buy now with MIR and get a 280 for as low as 329.99 or wait for smaller die and the price will go up to 499.00 again.
 

Hauk

Platinum Member
Nov 22, 2001
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Originally posted by: james1701
This makes for a tough decision. Buy now with MIR and get a 280 for as low as 329.99 or wait for smaller die and the price will go up to 499.00 again.

My thoughts exactly. Clock speeds are the variable, but I'm skeptical we'll see but modest gains. It's still a monster chip with a high transistor count.

Something I've been thinking about regarding 55nm GTX's, is diminished build quality. Looking at early specs for the 55nm 260, they're trimming down on power, going with a 10 layer pcb, putting all memory on the gpu side, basically saving on manufacturing cost wherever possible.

nVidia has never skimped on build quality, but they took a real beating this product cycle. By no means were these cheap cards to make. Anyone who's held a 4870 next to a 260 can certainly relate. I just hope build quality is on par with what they've always provided...
 

Leyawiin

Diamond Member
Nov 11, 2008
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Buy now, buy later - the majority of systems (for people considering such a card) can't make full use of its power as it is.
 

Phew

Senior member
May 19, 2004
477
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Originally posted by: james1701
This makes for a tough decision. Buy now with MIR and get a 280 for as low as 329.99 or wait for smaller die and the price will go up to 499.00 again.

Since the 55nm GT200 chips don't even get distinct model numbers, I don't expect the new cards to be more expensive than we are seeing now. Consumers won't even know which die size they get until they open the box. NV did the die shrink to save themselves money, not for any benefits the consumer may see in power consumption or overclocking.

Why should they charge a premium for a card that costs them less to manufacture?
 

Hauk

Platinum Member
Nov 22, 2001
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Originally posted by: Leyawiin
Buy now, buy later - the majority of systems (for people considering such a card) can't make full use of its power as it is.

hehe, I know one game that will bring a single GTX 280 to it's knees...

 

Cheex

Diamond Member
Jul 18, 2006
3,123
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Originally posted by: SteelSix
Originally posted by: Leyawiin
Buy now, buy later - the majority of systems (for people considering such a card) can't make full use of its power as it is.

hehe, I know one game that will bring a single GTX 280 to it's knees...

I think we all do...:p

;)
 

nRollo

Banned
Jan 11, 2002
10,460
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Originally posted by: chizow
BFG GTX 280 OC for $315

Very hot price, by some estimates its like they're paying you to buy it..... ;)

$314 with Far Cry 2 is a very nice price for this card.

Far Cry 2 is a fun game, and getting the single GPU champ for $314 is pretty much unheard of in modern times.

The only people in the world I can think of who "need" more video card than this are 25X16 monitor owners* and people who only play Crysis.

* and I consider a single GTX280 a pretty good solution form 25X16 even- I've been using one 280 or one Core 216 in my rig with the 3007 for weeks now and consider it pretty good (been too lazy to grab the other 280 out of my son's machine)
 

Compddd

Golden Member
Jul 5, 2000
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I use a single GTX 280 for my 3007WFP-HC and it is more than adequate, even for Crysis, just dial down the settings some.
 

OCGuy

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
27,224
36
91
Originally posted by: Phew
Originally posted by: james1701
This makes for a tough decision. Buy now with MIR and get a 280 for as low as 329.99 or wait for smaller die and the price will go up to 499.00 again.

Since the 55nm GT200 chips don't even get distinct model numbers, I don't expect the new cards to be more expensive than we are seeing now. Consumers won't even know which die size they get until they open the box. NV did the die shrink to save themselves money, not for any benefits the consumer may see in power consumption or overclocking.

Why should they charge a premium for a card that costs them less to manufacture?

Is this confirmed? Link?
 

nitromullet

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2004
9,031
36
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Originally posted by: chizow
BFG GTX 280 OC for $315

Very hot price, by some estimates its like they're paying you to buy it..... ;)

Good deal, but you will wait FOREVER for your rebate from BFG. Got a conformation email from their rebate processor in mid Oct confirming receipt of my paperwork, and they haven't even mailed the damn rebate yet. EVGA has the fasted rebates in my experience, but I know they have switched to using a third party for a lot of them now and I have no experience with them.

I hate rebates in general.

Originally posted by: nRollo
(been too lazy to grab the other 280 out of my son's machine)

Too lazy to SLI? Damn, that's %$#&'n lazy! :)

That's like, I could kick ass at fps games, but I'm too lazy to hit the 'W' key, so I just strafe back and forth.
 

chizow

Diamond Member
Jun 26, 2001
9,537
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Originally posted by: Ocguy31
Originally posted by: Phew
Originally posted by: james1701
This makes for a tough decision. Buy now with MIR and get a 280 for as low as 329.99 or wait for smaller die and the price will go up to 499.00 again.

Since the 55nm GT200 chips don't even get distinct model numbers, I don't expect the new cards to be more expensive than we are seeing now. Consumers won't even know which die size they get until they open the box. NV did the die shrink to save themselves money, not for any benefits the consumer may see in power consumption or overclocking.

Why should they charge a premium for a card that costs them less to manufacture?

Is this confirmed? Link?

That's been the rumor although Zotac, the company that provided a sample of the only confirmed 55nm GTX 260 showed it as GTX 260² on the HSF sticker.

Expreview GTX 260 55nm

Important thing to note is that there are only 14 physical RAM chips and doesn't look like there's traces or a solder spot for more, so while this pic confirms a 55nm GTX 260 it doesn't guarantee there's going to be any 55nm GTX 280s unless there's another PCB design out there with 16 RAM slots. The cores are marked differently and the cards are not fully shrouded, so that may tip you off if you look carefully.

Expreview GTX 295 55nm

Breaking news about the GTX 295 seem to indicate the 240SP cores will go towards the GTX 295 instead of any die shrunk GTX 280. Interesting that the 448-bit bus and RAM will remain the same, wonder if its a similar die shrink + ROP/memory controller cut as with G80 to G92.

 

chizow

Diamond Member
Jun 26, 2001
9,537
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Originally posted by: nitromullet
Good deal, but you will wait FOREVER for your rebate from BFG. Got a conformation email from their rebate processor in mid Oct confirming receipt of my paperwork, and they haven't even mailed the damn rebate yet. EVGA has the fasted rebates in my experience, but I know they have switched to using a third party for a lot of them now and I have no experience with them.

I hate rebates in general.

Yeah some can be very slow, like Antec is notorious for being slow but I've received very rebate I've submitted to them. My experience with them is very good, I just make sure to copy/scan everything, read the fine print and send everything they want within the submission period. Anything over $30 I send via Certified Mail. I just don't think about it for 4-5 months and they usually arrive. I've only had to follow up a few times, most recently with the EVGA Cash Back but was taken care of promptly by their CS.
 

Hauk

Platinum Member
Nov 22, 2001
2,806
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Originally posted by: chizow

Expreview GTX 260 55nm

Important thing to note is that there are only 14 physical RAM chips and doesn't look like there's traces or a solder spot for more, so while this pic confirms a 55nm GTX 260 it doesn't guarantee there's going to be any 55nm GTX 280s unless there's another PCB design out there with 16 RAM slots. The cores are marked differently and the cards are not fully shrouded, so that may tip you off if you look carefully.

Expreview GTX 295 55nm

Breaking news about the GTX 295 seem to indicate the 240SP cores will go towards the GTX 295 instead of any die shrunk GTX 280. Interesting that the 448-bit bus and RAM will remain the same, wonder if its a similar die shrink + ROP/memory controller cut as with G80 to G92.

Damn you may be on to something Chizow. EOL for GTX 280?? This makes complete sense.. use what SP's are already there (and have always been part of mfr cost), use 260 bus and memory. So am I reading this right, a 55nm 260 will be 216sp while the dual will use 240??
 

rjc

Member
Sep 27, 2007
99
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Originally posted by: chizow
Expreview GTX 295 55nm

Breaking news about the GTX 295 seem to indicate the 240SP cores will go towards the GTX 295 instead of any die shrunk GTX 280. Interesting that the 448-bit bus and RAM will remain the same, wonder if its a similar die shrink + ROP/memory controller cut as with G80 to G92.
The recently released tesla fx card with a 55nm gt200 has a 512 bit memory bus suggesting that they managed to preserve that during the shrink.

My preferred explanation is that the 295 board is too difficult to design with 2 x 512 bit memory interfaces and they have saved some board layers and probably a little bit of power/heat by cutting the memory interface down a bit.

The inquirer thinks the GTX295 may be released on the 12dec as nvidia are having a press event. Other people are saying jan sometime, maybe ces maybe late jan.

Is it possible they will announce the card in a couple of days but only release limited quantities or samples till january?
 

JPB

Diamond Member
Jul 4, 2005
4,064
89
91
Originally posted by: nitromullet
Originally posted by: chizow
BFG GTX 280 OC for $315

Very hot price, by some estimates its like they're paying you to buy it..... ;)

Good deal, but you will wait FOREVER for your rebate from BFG. Got a conformation email from their rebate processor in mid Oct confirming receipt of my paperwork, and they haven't even mailed the damn rebate yet. EVGA has the fasted rebates in my experience, but I know they have switched to using a third party for a lot of them now and I have no experience with them.

I hate rebates in general.

Originally posted by: nRollo
(been too lazy to grab the other 280 out of my son's machine)

Too lazy to SLI? Damn, that's %$#&'n lazy! :)

That's like, I could kick ass at fps games, but I'm too lazy to hit the 'W' key, so I just strafe back and forth.
:laugh: